From wallflower to academic superpower...my experience in academia

Warner: you...got into harvard law?

Elle: what like it's hard?

The word most commonly associated with me was "ditz." In the majority of my lessons, I spent my time with my head in the clouds, or doodling in the margins of my schoolbooks. I didn't particularly need to concentrate, I'd always passed my classes (apart from dreaded maths). Besides, concentrating too hard would consume too much energy, energy that wasn't needed because I wasn't half as intellegent compared to the other people in my year, who knew multiple languages and could solve equations at the drop of a hat. I wasn't abysmal in my schoolwork, but I wasn't remarkable either. I was beige. I was, entirely unremarkable. A wallflower.

Of course, I accepted this label because I'd never been told otherwise. I knew I was better at English and History, and I had good fun in drama. But I wasn't an outstanding talent. My school had a "gifted and talented day" when they'd parade the schools brightest and best before the rest. I was not amongst that crowd. I accepted my fate and decided that perhaps academia wasn't for me.

That was until, I first joined my sixth form college. A levels, were an entirely new experience for me. For one, these were topics I had picked, so I already had an interest in them. But further, I was amongst an entirely new crowd of people. These people didn't snicker when I raised my hand in class. These people were happy to work together to divise an answer. These teachers would kindly offer me advice, or encourage me when I got a question right. Suddenly the atmosphere shifted, and so too, did I. When I got my first college exams back at the end of Year 1, I had achieved 3A*s. I thought the system was bugged. I thought my eyes had decieved me. But I wasn't making things up, I, unremarkable Antoinette, had gotten three A*s. My educational journey was never the same again.

The mindset we have, and are encouraged to have, are so important when it comes to shaping our paths in education. Before this point I had become convinced that I was not valuable academically, so didn't feel the need to push myself to be. I had been told I'd never be gifted or talented, therefore there was no point even trying to be. When I learned that wasn't true, my performance changed. I started working hard, I would make voracious notes in class, and when I came home from college I would revise content, new and old so that I would never forget it. I aimed high, I applied to all of the universities I had once thought would never give me a second glance. When I'd feel those feelings of doubt creep in, I'd bat them away. I was capable. I could do this.

When I was accepted for an interview at Cambridge, I knew I would never be in the same position as I was before. Because I defied all odds. If you had told my school teachers where I'd gone they would've laughed and not believed it. I laughed too, because I did. Because for the first time in my life I had believed in myself and it had taken me far.

I finished my Alevels with three A*s and headed to my dream university. One that I could've never even imagined myself attending only five years before. And I did it, because I refused to be held back by other people's expectations of me. I refused to be told that I couldn't, and started believing that I could.

That's why I created my social media page, because I believe everyone is capable of achieving academic success. All they need is a little support, and self belief, and they will be able to take the leap and achieve all they have ever dreamed

Dear reader, I hope you believe you can achieve all you dream and more. Because I believe, in you. <3